With all the changes in fuel, ethenal, etc, what type of fuel does everyone use, specific brand (mobil, shell, citco, bp, etc.) and octane level, premium, mid or basic. Anyone add additives? Just curious.

 

Here is some info:
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html

Octane requirements are in the Owner's Manual and inside the fuel filler lid - 93 octane is the US recommendation. Spend some time in the owner's manual.

 

^^^ This. I am currently running Shell V-Power with a dash of 100% ETOH, now that I am running boost. In my experience, the Shell V-Power allows the engine to idle and run smoother compared to the other brands that are available in Hawaii.

 

93 Octane, ethanol free from local Citgo.

 

It should be noted that octane numbers recommended are RON ( Research Octane Number). This is calculated through chemical analysis. Another test is the MON ( Motor Octane Number). This test involves the use of a one cylinder variable compression ratio engine. The pump number ( what we see at the station ) is an average of the two. A 93 RON is about the same as a 91 octane pump number.

 

Sadly we can only get 91 in Cali anyway.

 

Shell V-Power, primarily for the nitrogen enrichment (plus a higher concentration of detergents) that is supposed to reduce carbon buildup (a known problem in DFI cars). I don't know if the fuel is having any effect in that area, but the car ('09 Carrera S) runs great on it. Ferrari F1 factory teams use this fuel exclusively, and I assume that they are happy with the results.

 

Higher detergent levels do really nothing for DFI engines. The intake area of DFI engines never see the fuel.

 

I only use one of two fuels. In Canada we have of course Shell, where I use the high octane 91 or I use the old Sunoco, now Petro Canada, Ultra 94.
Pricing is about the same as is the performance.

 

I am going on a road trip from Texas, where I only use Shell VPower 93, to Oklahoma City, OK. I suspect I may not find along the way 93 octane, and I'm wondering if I should take fuel additive with me? What happens to the performance if you're only able to run 91?

 

Hi Gonz
I also came to Florida from Toronto Canada for the winter. Sometimes I had to use 91 Octane and since I was driving 1500+ miles I was not putting the pedal to the metal but rather kept control of the urge to let it loose. I found that the 91 Octane will do you good without any octane boost.

 

​​​​​​​thanks!

 

I usually fill up at Quick Trip or the Ingles Gas Station near my house. Always 93 Octane with up to 10% Ethanol (I can only get 90 non-ethanol locally) and with the forced induction motors (my 997, my 928, Cayenne Turbo), the higher octane with a little ethanol is better than lower octane without ethanol to prevent pre-ignition and knock. No additives except a bottle of Techron in the last tank before an oil change.

 

To put it bluntly....all gasoline is the same. Every refiner makes gasoline to an API specification. And, regardless of the brand of fuel you buy, it more than likely was made by another refinery than the brand you have purchased.

"Raw", non blended gasoline is stored in tank farms and facilities referred to as terminals. The gasoline is made to the proper API standard. Since the cost of terminalling is expensive, it is not cost effective to have an Exxon Terminal next door to a Shell terminal. Instead, refiners negotiate trade agreements so that (for example) fuel sold in the local area by Shell actually came from an Exxon terminal. So, Shell can buy gasoline from Exxon in exchange for Exxon buying gasoline from Shell in a geographic area where Shell has the major terminal.

What differs is the "additive package" added to the fuel that is company specific. And, the ethanol that is added to fuel. Both additive package and the ethanol are added at the terminal where the fuel is being loaded out of.

To put it simply, you may be buying fuel manufactured by Exxon, but with the Shell additive package and ethanol added by Shell.

The ethanol added is generic and only the percent ethanol added is specified by the company. BUT, since ethanol is an octane booster, the "raw" gasoline stored at the terminal is lower in octane than sold at the station. The octane is adjusted by adding ethanol to the raw gasoline.

So, in the end analysis, all gasoline is the same. What differs is the additive package, which does have some value enhancement, though the amount is debatable.

What is more important is that if you purchase fuel containing ethanol, that the fuel be purchased from a high volume dealer who maintains his underground storage tanks to minimize the amount of water in the fuel.

Sorry for the long winded explanation, but the reality of it all is that the gasoline you purchase was probably produced by the closest refinery, independent of brand.

Before retiring, I ran a marketing engineering and terminal department for one of the largest oil companies in the world, which, hopefully, adds a little credence to what I am saying.

 

Earossi, thanks for the clarification.